Ashley Viegas

Dear Family & Friends - We have gathered here today in the memory of Mum & Dad, so that together we may acknowledge and share both our joy in the gift that their life was to us, and the pain that their passing brings.

I’d like to start with what we their children are grateful for. We are grateful for our family and our friends and also grateful for every one of you who have joined us here today to remember them. Seeing the love and support for them and our family is very humbling. Thank you for taking the time to be here today to celebrate Mum & Dad’s life.

Mum & Dad’s story began in the late 50’s when he saw her at a wedding in Bombay and fell totally in love. When he finally mustered the courage to ask for her hand in marriage and she said yes, which was not long after, it broke the hearts of many girls in Mangalore. Their love for each other was always sincere and strong through all the ups and downs in their life and together they completed 60 years of their marriage on the 27th of December this past week. Dad was always there for Mum and for 60 years they have shared everything life can offer - together. They were a great team supporting each other in every way. They couldn’t stay apart in life and neither could death separate them and we console ourselves with the thought that they are happy being united once again.

If I reflect on my childhood and that of my brothers, Rodney & Vivek and sisters, Bina & Priya, our mum’s presence was a very strong constant. She was at every first day of our school and in the early years, I am certain she held our hands and walked us into the classrooms as well. She was at every parent teacher meeting, at every Doctors appointment - especially the Dentist & Growing up, she made certain we didn’t miss on the daily rosary – down on our knees every time. Dad for his part never questioned the things that we wanted or chose to do. He trusted and believed we would make the right decisions and accomplish anything we set our minds to.

Mum was born & brought up in the Bombay of the 40’s and the 50’s. I can well imagine how full of life, vibrant and inquisitive she must have been when she got married and moved to Mangalore in the 60’s. Like every Bombay girl – she loved her music her dancing & the movies. She was a great fan of Dev Anand & a mention of his name always brought a smile to her face. Mangalore, we will all agree was not even a pale shadow of Bombay back in those days & maybe is still not. The conservative place that it was would have been a tough pill for Mum to swallow but for the love of Dad and her children she adapted to a totally new life style and over the next 20 years - made it her own.

Dad was a very well respected person in Mangalore and the measure of his popularity was us being invited to every wedding in town. There wouldn’t be too many weddings in Mangalore where he was not the Master of Ceremonies or wouldn’t have raised the toast on love and marriage. Dad was someone to look up to, someone to follow, someone to admire, someone to be proud of. He always was and remained a very generous person – generous with his time and his smile. His kindness and generosity will be remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

The late 70’s was a difficult time for both of them as we fell on bad times and Dad moved to Dubai looking for a job. Mum held the family together and raised us single handedly under those difficult circumstances. Dad made sure he wrote charming letters regularly to mum which she used to look forward to – they always brought a smile to her face – I have to admit that he was quite a romantic.

Mum soon joined Dad in Dubai and the next 20 years were probably the best years for them because all their children came together to work & we were a family again. Also, seeing all their children getting married while in Dubai must have made them proud and very happy. Soon the grandchildren followed and life must have seemed complete.

However, the life in Canada was still awaiting. Mum & Dad followed Vivek & Roshni and moved to Mississauga over 20 years ago and once again caught up with lots of family and over the years that followed have forged some great friendships. I cannot thank Vivek & Roshni, Jason & Susan and all the other family and friends enough for the support you’ll have provided to Mum & Dad over the last many years. You’ll have given so much of your time & so much of yourselves –You’ll are the best – On behalf of their children and from the bottom of my heart - Thank you all very much. I have absolutely no hesitation in admitting that every one of you are here today not because of us but because they touched your lives in a very special way & can only hope that we their children can carry forward this legacy and make a place in your hearts as well.

In the end it is always hard to say goodbye. We always wish that we had more time, and perhaps during the time we had - we had spent more of it together. While we know that they are at peace and that their struggles have come to an end - there is still pain and sadness. But even though they have passed, they have left the legacy of their love and perseverance. The way they touched all our lives will always remain with us.

Mum & Dad, Thank you for everything you've given us and the warmth we shared during your precious time on earth. In our grief, we find gratitude: God bless you both. Always.

I’d like to close with a prayer:
God our Father:
we thank you that you have made each of us
in your own image,
and given us gifts and talents with which to serve you.
We thank you for Mum & Dad
The years we shared with them,
the good we saw in them,
the love we received from them.
Now give us strength and courage
to leave them in your care,
confident in your promise of eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.